Money seal crucial win

Belfast Harlequins made the mid-week trip to Ballymoney where the local girls were missing captain Suzie Martin due to Interprovincial commitments, but welcomed back Megan Frazer, taking a break from her studies in America where she is on a hockey scholarship for three years.

This boost helped inspire the girls to a convincing 3-1 win, crucially helping their top four league finish aim.

Ballymoney started well controlling the ball immediately and retaining possession with their fast passing and runs off the ball. Frazer quickly set-up Irish U16 player Katie Mullan for a quick shot at goal past the dazed goalkeeper for Ballymoney’s first goal. The girls quickly won back the ball from the restart and again Mullan was left in a good position to shoot, but her shot just fired wide of the upright much to Quin’s relief.

Harequins came back into the game though, but Ruth Sutherland on her gradual return to 1st XI hockey had her defence well positioned and in control, so they never really looked too dangerous in front of goals in the first half.

Ballymoney gradually got the ball back up into attack after a sustained period in defence, with Briget Clelland just returning from International duty in good form in the centre.

They won a couple of important penalty corners, which were well saved by their former Irish schools’ goalkeeper. However, Frazer made no mistake in her third set piece, riffling the ball awkwardly past the defensive corner team.

The remainder of the first half was played in the middle half of the pitch, where a fine battle went on between former Irish International Jenny McDonagh and current International Lauren Barr. Barr’s ability to defend so low caused McDonagh all sorts of problems as she struggled to find a way forwards to attack, being forced constantly into the middle.

The second half saw a more determined effort from Quins, but it was the home team that literally killed off the game to go three nil up, when Mullan weaved her way into the attacking 25, where she passed the ball in to the circle to Diane McNeill in a great position to slot the ball past the advancing keeper.

Ballymoney kept up this pressure and won a couple more penalty corners, where again Frazer had her strike well saved and cleared by the experienced Quin’s defence team.

Ballymoney content with their fine lead began to sit back slightly in the remaining ten minutes, while Quins pushed an extra couple of players high up the pitch as they searched to find their way back into the game, as they had done only two weeks ago when they forced a draw right at the end. Their numerous former Ulster and Irish schools’ players skilfully weaved their way to win three penalty corners in quick succession. The first two were well saved by Sammy-Jo Greer and cleared from danger by the quick reactions from Barr, but the third corner was riffled in. Quins continued to put pressure on the home defence and almost made it two goals, but Judith McVicker dived in to stop the ball going over the line and cleared it off the pitch, to spoil Quin’s last chance to score.

The next game is against Lurgan, 2:30pm start at the Joey Dunlop Centre playing fields on Saturday 3rd April.

Squad: S-J Greer, R. Sutherland, J. McVicker, G. Adams, A. Huey (Captain), L. Barr, B. Clelland, M. Frazer, K. Mullan, J. Allison, N. Parke, D. McNeill, R. Lightbody.